National Bomb Pop Day

Description

By 1955, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was beginning to heat up, and the possibility of nuclear war became palpable. That same year, while working on Independence Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, James Merritt, along with help from D.S. Abernathy, came up with a popsicle shaped like a six-finned bomb. Known as the Bomb Pop, the red, white, and blue popsicle came to cool off the world, not to heat it up. It thus became associated with summer, and with the 4th of July in particular, because of its patriotic color scheme.

James Merritt died in 1970, but Merritt Foods, the company under which Bomb Pops were sold, lasted until 1991. The company was then bought out by Wells' Dairy. The popsicles have continued to be produced, with many additional flavors being introduced over the years. National Bomb Pop Day was started in 2005, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the patriotic popsicle.

National Bomb Pop Day is observed next on Thursday, June 27th, 2019. It has been observed the last Thursday in June since 2005.

How to Observe

Celebrate the day by eating Bomb Pops! Explore the many available flavors and see where they are being sold near you. If you are feeling extra nostalgic, try chasing down an ice cream truck and seeing if they have any Bomb Pops.